Curtain construction



March '4, J L p w CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug; 11} 1951.

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION Edward J. Lepow, New York, N. Y., assignor to Home Curtain Corp., a corporation of New York Application August 11, 1951, Serial No. 241,485

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to window curtains and more particularly to window curtain construction having a plurality of panel portions which may be arranged in a number of different manners, producing novel and highly decorative window treatment.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide curtain construction having a plurality of panel elements which by suitable adjustment and arrangement may accommodate a plurality of different window or building opening sizes.

Another object herein lies in the provision of curtain construction having a plurality of elongated side panel elements with a central panel element interposed therebetween, said central panel elements being adapted to be detachably engaged upon the uppermost portions of the side panel elements or upon the curtain supporting rod inwardly or outwardly of the edges of the side panel elements.

A feature of the invention is that a decorative effect is produced which has the appearance of having been created by more complicated structure and/ or a plurality of rods.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the class described in which the central pane1 element provides a valance effect with radially arranged drape lines.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the process of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a exploded view in perspective showing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged rear fragmentary view of the lower right corner of the central panel element,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view corresponding to Figure 2, but showing another form of attachment means.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the central panel element in a generally vertical position with the attachment means disengaged.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view corresponding to Figure 4 with the attachment means of the central panel element engaged upon the uppermost portions of the side panel elements.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view corresponding to Figure 5, showing the side edges of the central panel element lying forward- 1y of the side panel elements, a position substantially intermediate between Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the upper portion of the central panel element in an inverted position and with the attachment means engaging the curtain rod outwardly of the outer lateral edges of the side panel elements.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the right hand upper portion of Figure '7 as seen from the rear thereof, the side panel element being removed for clarity. This figure also shows another form of the attachment means.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view corresponding generally to Figure 5, but showing the central panel element at the attachment means portions thereof being connected to the curtain rod lying between the inner opposed lateral edges of the side panel elements.

In accordance with the invention the curtain generally indicated by reference character if! includes a first main central panel element l2 and one or more side panel elements I 4 and I G and attachment means I8 and 2B.

The side panel elements are preferably substantially identical and these may include upper front edges 22- and 24, bottom edges 26 and 28, inner lateral edges 30 and 32 and outer lateral edges 34 and 36. The upper portions of the side panel elements [4 and I5 are preferably substantially conventional in which the free edges 38 and 40 are folded through the fold edges 22 and 24 and are interconnected to produce rod passages 56 and 58. The side panel elements l4 and 16 as well as the central panel element may be composed of suitable materials such as textile fabrics or synthetic resin sheeting, and the interconnection of the various parts may be ac complished by suitable stitching, adhesion, or heat sealing as the materials may require.

The central. panel element l2 may include an upper edge 42, a lower edge 44 and side edges 46 and 48. The uppermost portion 50 maybe preshirred as indicated at 52 to form the front wall of the rod tunnel The rear Wall of the rod tunnel may be a separate strip of material and is indicated by reference character 62. Where desired the uppermost portion of the central panel element may be constructed substantially identical with the construction shown and described for the foremost portion of the side panel elements [4 and I6. Since the central panel element acts as a valance the lower edge 44 may have secured to the front surface thereof a ruflled.

band 64. This band not only accentuates the decorative effect of the valance but also helps to reinforce the lower edge 44 of the central panel element I2, so that the same may distribute the strain produced by the support thereof by the attachment means I8 and 20.

The attachment means l8 and 20 (see Figure in the preferred form are combination hook pin devices sometimes referred to as upholstery hooks. One of these is shown clearly in Figure 2. Each of the attachment means may thus include a pin portion 66 and a hook portion 68 and a bight T0. The pin portion 56 may be passed through the fabric or body of the central panel element l2. As seen in Figure 2 the body of the central panel element I2 adjacent the lower edge 44 may be interconnected with the upper portion of the band 64 by a plurality of rows of stitches f2. The forward portion of the band 64, which lies forwardly of the portion carrying the stitches l2, conceals the pin portion 66 of the attachment means l8.

In use, the curtain i9 is preferably placed upon a rod 8 in the'position shown in Figure 4 and if desired the parts may be arranged as shown on said figure. Another arrangement is shown in Figure 6 where the lower portion of the central panel element I2 is pulled out to lie forwardly of the upper portions of the side panel elements I4 and 15. The relative stiffness of the material of which the central panel element is composed, as well as frictional forces, will tend to maintain it in the position shown, although a more positive arrangement appears in Figure 5, where the attachment means 58 and 20 have been placed over the upper edges 22 and 26 of the side panel elements producing the arrangement there shown. As indicated by the dot dash lines 34 and 35 the side panel elements may be laterally extended so that the entire curtain may accommodate different sized window or other buildin openings. Figure 9 shows an arrangement in which the attachment means [8 and 20 have been engaged upon the rod 8 with the inner lateral edges 30 and 32 lying substantially co-terminus with the free edge of the rufiled band 64. This arrangement enables a relatively small sized curtain ensemble to be used with comparatively wide window or building openings, while still producing a desirabledecorative appearance.

Figures '7 and 8 show an arrangement in which in the threading of the rod through the rod tunnel 50, the upper portion of the central panel element is placed upon the rod 8 in an inverted position so that the normally upper edge 42 actually lies below the lower edge 9 of the rod 3. Such an arrangement is only possible where the material of which the central panel element is composed is relatively stiff and the rod is a fiat rod.

Figure 7 also illustrates the use of the central panel element in which the attachment means are disposed on the rod 8 outwardly of the outer lateral edges 34 and 39, producin the decorative effect shown 'thereat. This arrangement is desirable where the window opening is relatively narrow and the valance effect is desired to be accentuated.

Depending upon the materials used different types of attachment means may be used. Thus for example in Figure 3 there is illustrated a tab 12 having a buttonhole l3 engaged upon the button 14. This arrangement is only suitable where the connection is made directly with the rod and does not permit the hooking arrangement shown in Figure 5, unless, of course, the side panel elements are perforated to permit passage therethrough of the button. While only the right hand tab 72 is shown it will be understood that the opposite one not shown is substantially identical thereto.

In Figure '7 the tabs 12a and 1% may be secured by snap fasteners 14a and 141).

In Figure 8 there is shown a strap 12c and buckle l lc arranged to engage the rod 8.

It may thus be seen that I have disclosed novel and useful curtain construction in which relatively simple parts may be coordinated to produce a large variety of decorative effects including valance-like arrangements having radial fold or draping lines and by the use of which a relatively small range of basic curtain sizes may be used to accommodate a considerable range of window or building openings. The parts are easily mounted upon a single rod, thereby reducing the cost of hanging hardware and are easily removed and replaced for laundering or cleaning. Substantially no skill is required in setting up the curtain or in providing the various adjustments and arrangements shown.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details shown and described in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

I claim:

A curtain hanging assembly comprising rod means adapted to be connected to a. window frame above a window opening, side panel elements having respectively rod passage means at their upper ends receiving the ends'of the rod and suspended therefrom at locations laterally spaced from each other, a central panel element of substantially rectangular shape having upper and lower edges, rod passage means adjacent the upper edge of the central panel element slidably securing the same to the rod and between the side panel elements and hook means carried by the respective terminal ends of the central panel element adjacent the lower edge thereof, said upper edge of the central panel element being gathered upon said rod and the lower edge fanned to extend the terminals ends and the hook means thereof to the rod, said hook means at the terminal ends of the panel element connected to the rod over the rod passage means of the side panel elements, said central panel element extending in front of and overlapping the side panels.

EDWARD J. LEPOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,776,047 Shulman Sept. 16, 1930 2,200,366 Grundstein May 14, 1940 2,392,598 Lewis Jan. 8, 1946 2,534,519 Kahn Dec. 19, 1950 

